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A Wellsford farming couple who won a major dairy industry award last year say the prizes and benefits have been “fantastic” and they are urging others to enter this year’s competition, entries for which open in October.
Colin and Isabella Beazley of Te Hana won the 2019 Northland Share Farmers of the Year and went on to win the national title and four other merit awards in June, netting a package of prizes worth around $52,000.
They say the vouchers and credits have been invaluable, not least since they have just expanded their herd from 330 Friesian and Friesian-cross cows to 530, as well as completing a significant DNA profiling exercise.
However, the NZ Dairy Industry Awards are about far more than money, Colin says. They are also an opportunity to meet key industry people and benchmark your business against others.
“The networking and contact with industry leaders is unparalleled and we have used these relationships to grow our business,” he says.
“As a busy farmer, you can get caught up in the day-to-day running of the farm, so to stand back and watch our presentation, seeing the nine plywood boards plastered with our collated evidence, and setting up our machinery for display and effect was quite eye-opening for us.
“It made us super-proud of how far our industry has allowed us to grow and excited for the prospects of where it can take us.”
Isabella says as well as the networking opportunities and receiving valuable feedback from industry experts, there was one other huge plus to the awards process.
“Time off-farm,” she says. “Being able to flick off the cow poo clothes and don some suave suits and flash heels to enjoy some time with others within our industry, who get what it’s like to be a farmer too, is also just as rewarding as the event itself.”
She says the best advice for awards entrants is to keep records of everything.
“Keeping good records is paramount,” Isabella says. “Sorting through and collating everything that farmers do on a daily basis can take time, so start now if you’re thinking of entering.”
This year, the Beazleys are involved with the Northland regional committee as regional managers and are enjoying being able to encourage the next wave of entrants coming through. “We 110 per cent recommend entering the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards,” they say. “If you’re striving for more in our industry, definitely sign up and see where the awards’ journey takes you.”
Entries for the 2020 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards open on Tuesday, October 1 and there are three categories – Share Farmer of the Year, Dairy Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year.
Info and registration: dairyindustryawards.co.nz
